Chapter Text
Kate pulled at the edge of her cuff, taking in the too bright lights outside the ridiculously posh hotel. Cold wind ripped through her blazer, it sent sharp needles to her face.
She stood before the gate, approaching a smartly dressed man behind a podium with a clipboard. His expressionless face all but doubled with a smile at her approach.
"Good evening, ma'am. Can I take your name?"
"Kate Bishop"
With a pen in his hand, he scanned through a few pages, each filled with lists of names that Kate wasn't bothered to memorize. She did do her research of course, having a mother working in marketing security really was very convenient.
"Ah, Miss Bishop! Here you are" tuxedo ticked her name off the list and offered her a too kind smile "your mother has already arrived, as has her guest"
Kate mustered up her best attempt at a smile at the mention of her mother's 'guest'. It definitely appeared as a grimace if the perplexed look on the man's face was anything to go by.
Nodding her thanks to tuxedo, she made her way through the grand double doors and down a series of corridors. She hadn't a clue where she was going, but the obnoxious music was easy enough to follow. Her hands hung loose in the pockets of her black slacks, shoes connecting with a soft dull on the shined marble floor.
A few patrons walked past her in the maze of corridors, each one seemingly less interesting than the last. Wafts of overwhelming perfume and musty cologne clung in the back of her throat. They all gave curt "good evening's" as they passed, though the curl of their lips at her attire gave away their true feelings.
By the time she found her mother, her arms were swinging at her sides as she near sauntered into the grand room. Kate stopped a few paces away, leaning on a small table.
Her eyes scanned the room before stopping on the arm wrapped around her mother's waist. Jack's arm, to be exact. His laugh reached Kate even from the large distance, his moustache covering a large portion of his mouth. Her eyes narrowed instinctively, he had made himself quite comfy while Kate was away for the semester. Perhaps–
"Excuse me dear, would you–"
A gruff voice pulled her from the reeling thoughts in her head. She glanced at the aging man now standing to her left.
"Sorry I'm not a waitress"
"You're the little Bishop girl" he all but drawled, a smile curling on to his cheeks.
Kate frowned a fraction but returned the smile albeit a bit confused "yes I am"
"Armand. Armand Duquesne"
Kate nodded along, recognition sparking her memory "ah"
"You used to come to my brownstone for brunch"
Kate looked to her mother and Jack before focusing back on her companion "oh, build your own blintz bar"
"Precisely" Armond chuckled. He stood back a fraction and made a show of looking Kate head to toe with a keen eyes "you know, it's unfair"
Kate frowned at the talkative man.
"I never looked that good in a tuxedo in my life" Kate chuckled and pushed her hands into the pockets of her pants " I'd appreciate it if you wore something a little more lady-like for the wedding, so we won't be competing"
A slight twinge made itself known in Kate's jaw, a flexed muscle. Rather fleeting really. And completely unnoticed by a man such as Armond. Lady-like? Oh, a small malevolent part of her wanted to share with the man just how lady-like she could be–
Wait.
"What wedding?" She asked
"You don't know?" Armand frowned. "Eleanor and Jack. Oh! Those secretive little love birds"
The blood drained from Kate's face and pooled low in her legs. Her knees shook for only a second before she caught herself. Her eyes snapped to the pair, though they were unseeing. Unfocused.
A wedding?
"Believe me, I've done everything in my power to talk him out of it. But when he gets something set in that little mind of his, he can be quite determined"
Kate nodded, licking her dry lips "seems like he won the jackpot"
"You think so?" Armands voice dropped, his playful demeanor long gone "so does he. I'm not so sure"
Kate couldn't help but frown at the man, excusing herself from his company. Her feet were moving before her mind could catch up, striding confidently towards her mother.
She planted herself by her mother's side, giving a fake smile to the other people in the small circle. She didn't even look at Jack, just Eleanor.
"You're engaged?"
Kate watched her mother's smile dwindle as Jack gave a curt laugh "oh, well I guess the beans are out of the bag"
Brown eyes snapped to Jack, his overcompensating demeanour didn't falter. Kate gave a mocking chuckle.
"Could you give us a moment?" Eleanor asked, sighing softly.
"Oh, of course, it's almost time for my other engagement anyway"
He dipped low and brought his mouth to Eleanor's, too quick for Kate to avert her gaze. Her fists clenched from inside her pockets, crescent moon marks were definitely seared into her palms.
"Babe, I'm sorry. I'm sorry you found out this way"
Kate shook her head, still trying to process everything "I don't know, mom. This is just like... fast"
"Yeah yeah, it's fast. Yes. But you know, it's kind of nice being swept up in the romance of it" Eleanor sighed and reached out for Kate, wrapping her hands around tense biceps "is there a part of you that could be happy for me?"
What kind of question was that? Flashes of her father danced across her mind's eye, bright eyes and unruly hair. Photographs that had been taken off the walls and replaced with professional pictures of Eleanor and Jack.
Replaced, erased, anything to remove the past. Like a bad stain.
"Yes. Yes mom, of course"
Her mother sagged an inch at that, pulling her daughter into a tight hug "thank you, I promise I wanted to tell you first I'm sorry"
Kate nodded, arms trapped at her sides. She pulled back when Eleanor loosened her grip "I think I'm gonna go outside and get some air"
"Of course, sweetie. Just come back and find me, ok?" Eleanor gave a final sweet smile, taking in her daughter for a moment before disappearing to find Jack.
An ache in Kate's jaw drew her attention, she finally unclenched the sore muscle. Spinning on her heels, she swiftly left the ball room. She was going to get some air.
But first, a detour.
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"Jameson's Black Barrel neat, please"
Kate rolled her shirt up her forearms, letting the cold wood of the bar seep into her uncomfortably warm skin. She perched on a bar stool with her blazer strewn next to her. Her lip was trapped between her teeth, chewing slightly.
A young redhead pulled out a polished tumbler and filled it with the desired amber liquid. She pushed it towards Kate with a quick "enjoy" and was whisked away to help another eager customer. Kate pulled out her wallet before suddenly remembering that it was an open bar due to the charity event. Instead she pushed the five dollar bin into the tip jar.
Kate picked up the glass, twirling it in its place. The smooth drink sloshed back and forth gently, holding her attention. Her head was fucking scattered. Eleanor and Jack. Engaged. She brought the glass to her lips, taking a long sip.
The smooth burn did nothing to rid the awful taste in the back of her throat. Her lips tingled with the aftertaste. The low lighting seemed to set the mood for the night, her drink glinted in the shine.
"You've got the right idea"
A voice to her left caught her attention. Gruff, and raspy with an obvious accent. Kate tossed her hair over her shoulder, casting a sideway glance to the stranger. A woman was leaning against the bar, a hint of a smirk danced on her lips. Strong forearms were on display, fingers tapping idly to the beat of the music.
"Yeah" Kate laughed through her nose, taking another sip of her drink. She looked over the rim of her glass at the woman, who was flagging down the bartender.
"Stoli on the rocks, pozhaluysta"
The woman who was clad in a flattering dress shirt and grey slacks took a seat at the bar, leaving an empty stool between her and Kate.
She returned back to her drink, elegant fingers tracing the rim of the glass. Her head felt heavy, like it had been jammed to the brim with thoughts that weren't her own.
Four months. She had been gone for four months and she came back to this. Kate wasn't disregarding her mother's feelings, quite the opposite really. Jack wasn't a good person. How her mother didn't see that was beyond her. The snide remarks, the condescending tone when he spoke, and the irrational need to spend thousands of dollars on antique swords.
There were more flies on that man than a pile of horse shit.
The sound of glass sliding on wood pulled her attention. A tumbler of clear liquid with ice was placed next to her own empty glass.
"Sorry, I didn't order this" Kate said to the barkeep, a confused tone hinted in her voice. The red head nodded to the blonde woman who had a small smile on her face.
"Already paid for" she replied, taking a white cloth from over her shoulder and wiping down the bar. She swept up Kate's empty tumbler and left to tend to the other customers.
"Oh" Kate pulled the glass into her grasp, looking up at the woman who still had her eyes on her. She tipped the glass "thank you"
"Looked like you could use it," she said with a soft expression. Not judging, just observing.
"Yeah" Kate scoffed with a weak smile "that obvious, huh?"
The woman waved a hand dismissively "I've worn that look enough to recognise it on someone else"
Kate nodded, twirling the glass in her fingers "sorry to hear that"
"Nothing to be sorry for, daragaya"
Kate focused on the accent that rolled off the woman's lips. Call her a cliche but it was attractive. She watched as the woman shifted in her seat, pointing to the empty stool between them "can I?"
"Oh yeah, sure" Kate grabbed her blazer off the stool and moved it aside. The woman moved swiftly and took the now empty seat. Sweet perfume drifted to Kate's nose with the woman's close proximity "Is that Russian?"
"It is yes, the motherland" the young woman fixed the collar of her shirt, never breaking eye contact "have you ever been?"
Kate shook her head, letting her eyes linger on her now exposed neck. Her jaw was sharp, features chiseled with piercing eyes. Kate shifted under her stare, a roll of heat sticking her shirt to her skin.
"I wasn't sure what you were drinking" she said with a look to Kate's glass "so I got you mine"
"Judging by your accent, this is going to hurt isn't it?" Kate sloshed the clear liquid around, ice clinking against the glass.
Her drinking partner laughed softly, resting her chin on her hand with a teasing smirk "you americans, always so dramatic"
"Is that so?" Kate played along, turning to face the woman with the glass held loosely on her knee "so this won't kill me?"
"Unlike that dog piss you were drinking before, no it will not"
Kate dropped her jaw and placed a hand on her chest "you've got to be joking. I'm going to pretend you did not just say that"
"I'm just being honest, nothing that colour can taste good"
Kate continued to shake her head with mock annoyance. She then picked up the glass and brought it to her nose, taking a sniff. Immediately she recoiled, eyes watering at the overwhelming alcoholic smell.
"That's paint thinner, that is not meant to be consumed"
The woman next to her was visibly shaking through a laugh, bringing a hand to cover her mouth "just try it! I promise it's good"
Kate narrowed her eyes and sucked her teeth but nevertheless, she brought the glass to her lips and took a sip of the smooth drink.
The smell definitely overpowered the taste. It sat on Kate's tongue like a sweet flame, the burning liquid licked down her throat as she swallowed. The juxtaposition between the ice cold drink and the burn in her chest was incredible. Her throat tingled as she caught the cocky smirk on the woman's face.
"See?"
"Yeah yeah, alright. It is pretty good" Kate relented, looking into striking brown eyes "but it doesn't beat Jameson's. You can't beat Irish whiskey"
"Not a fan of Jack Daniels?"
"Now you're talking about dog piss" Kate chuckled, her grin widening at the delightful laugh she received from the woman. She looked away, once again staring into her glass. A silence fell on the pair then, the hustle and bustle of the hotel was accompanied by the live band playing a piece that actually wasn't awful.
"Are you here for the event?" Kate asked, twirling her glass on the polished bar.
"No, just staying at the hote while I settle some business. Truthfully speaking I don't even know what this is all for" she waved a hand in the general direction of the ball room.
Kate couldn't help but find the bewildered look on her face endearing "it's a charity event"
"Ah" she clicked her tongue, leaning her arm on the bar. Her deft fingers were an inch away from Kate's glass "so a bunch of rich pricks putting on a show to help the people that they've been exploiting"
Kate raised an eyebrow but nodded "that about sums it up, yeah"
Kate watched the woman's eyes drop low, before a featherlight touch on the back of her hand drew her attention. What she saw had her heart jumping in her chest. Skilled fingers drifted back and forth, slowly. Her skin burned hotter than the sting of the vodka she'd swallowed.
"You gonna tell me your name?" She asked, her voice considerably deeper. Her thick accent lulled against Kate's ears.
"I'm Kate, Kate Bishop" she answered, eyes drawn to full pink lips. Her breath caught when the woman pulled her bottom lip between her teeth "and you are?"
She barely heard the response with the sudden blood pounding in her ears.
"Yelena Belova"
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